page_title: Prince Charles of Hesse-Kassel
section_title: Early career
hierarchical_section_title: Prince Charles of Hesse-Kassel / Early career
caption_attribution_description: English: Princess Louise of Denmark-Norway. Later Princess Louise of Hesse-Kassel. 1750-1831.
context_page_description: Prince Charles of Hesse-Kassel, German and Norwegian: Karl; 19 December 1744 – 17 August 1836 was a cadet member of the house of Hesse-Kassel and a Danish general field marshal. Brought up with relatives at the Danish court, he spent most of his life in Denmark, serving as royal governor of the twin duchies of Schleswig-Holstein from 1769 to 1836 and commander-in-chief of the Norwegian army from 1772 to 1814.
context_section_description: Charles began a military career in Denmark. In 1758 he was appointed colonel, at the age of 20 major general and in 1765 was put in charge of the artillery. After his cousin, King Christian VII, acceded to the throne in 1766, he was appointed lieutenant general, commander of the Royal Guard, knight of the Order of the Elephant and member of the Privy Council. 
  In 1766, he was appointed Governor-General of Norway as successor to  Jacob Benzon (1688–1775). He  held the  position  until 1768 but which remained mostly titular, as he never went to Norway during this period. 
  In 1763, his elder brother William married their first cousin, Danish Princess Caroline. Charles followed suit on 30 August 1766 at Christiansborg Palace — his wife was Louise of Denmark, and Charles thus became brother-in-law to his cousin, King Christian VII of Denmark. The marriage took place despite advice given against it, due to many accusations of debauchery by Prince Charles and the poor influence he had on the King.
  Shortly after, Charles fell into disfavour at court, and in early 1767 he and Louise left Copenhagen to live with his mother in the county of Hanau. They would have their first child, Marie Sophie, there in 1767 and then their second child, William, in 1769. 
  In 1768, Charles purchased the landed property and village of Offenbach-Rumpenheim from the Edelsheim family. In 1771 he had the manor expanded into a castle and princely seat. His mother Mary lived in the palace until her death in 1772. In 1781, Charles sold the Rumpenheim Palace to his younger brother, Frederick.
caption: Charles' wife, Princess Louise of Denmark
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